davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
The Farm Workshop.

Have you workshop on the farm? If
not, why not? Many jobs can be done
on the farm in less time than it would
take to order them of some person, per
haps miles away, and then wait for them,
or perhaps make another journey after
them. Every farmer is not handy with
tools, but he may soon become so by
their handling, at least to such a degree
as to perform jobs sufficiently we'll to
compass the end. Nowadays any re-
pair about the farm may be had already
shaped and only needing fitting. If you
arc distant from where such things may
be bought, when III the woods look out
for crooks that will make Il piow handle,
or timber that will split into plow
beams, harrow frames, wagon tongues,
cross pieces for hay rigging, log for
roller, or any other material needed.
The broken implement will serve as a
pattern to hew or otherwise work by.
When found, prepare roughly and pile in
a loft, where the wood may become
thoroughly seasoned against time of
want. Many a job may be nicely done
in the workshop in inclemcnt weather,
especially in winter. Provide few
necessary tools and stove to keep the
shop warm. AT odd times make dupli-
Gates of articles or parts to implements
likely to break. Many minor implements
are now more cheaply bought new than
repaired or made on the farm. Handles
to any of the implements, rakes, ETC., are
among the number, and when they may
be bought ready shaped, they are cheaper
than to hew them down from timber.
1t takes little labor to fit these properly
to their places.
In the workshop broken harness may
be mended by means Of rivets or stitch
ing. Many implements of use or con-
venience in the family may easily be
made. Here the children will make play
in learning to become handy with tools.
The hired men will also take kindly to
this work, since it is sure to keep them
out of the storm.
With good stock of timber poles may
be prepared for making sheds; lumber
may be fitted for pig-pens; posts may be
prepared by boring or hcwing; rails may
be sharpened; managers may be fitted,
feed-boxes prepared, stanchions made
ready for fitting together, and tools
and implements may be sharpened.
These are few of the uses to which the
workshop may be put and the ingenuity
of the master and man exercised. If
they prevent a visit to the village grocery
for drink and card-playing when time
drags heavily, the small economies will
carry joy to the household, honor to the
head of the family, and money into the
purse against rainy day Chicago Iri-
bune,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
Modes of Strawberry Culture.

The question is often asked: "What is
! the best mode of cultivation for the
strawberry, in hills, rows, matted beds or
annual renewal system?" A general an
is. all of these modes will, with pro-
ductive varieties on good soil. produce
| good results, but different varieties often
require different modes of culture in
| order to gain the largest yield and the
largest berries. Mr.. Ealler in his revised
edition of the "Strawberry Culturist, {"
| makes plain these different requirements
and the various modes of meeting them.
Following are, in brief, statements made
by him in this matter:
The large, coarse-grown varieties sue
ceed best when grown in hills or single
rows, and these are usually quite unpro-
ductivc if the plants are permitted to run
together and become in the least crowd
ed. The Triomphe de Gand, Jacunda,
Champion and Agriculturist are we'll
known varieties of this type, while others,
such as Charles Downing, President
Wilder, Green Prolific and Manchester
will yield well, either in narrow rows or
wide beds, and where the plants become
matted.
In the hill system the plants are usu-
ally set out in rows three feet apart and
the plants eighteen inches to TWO feet
in the row. The ground is kept thor
oughly cultivated among the plants dur
ing the entire season, and all the runners
removed as soon as they appear.
When grown in single rows plants
-, if cot oho,,t fu-n1ua ipoboc onort
in the rows, and in garden culture the
rows ought to be three feet distant,
with little more space for feed culture.
Daring the first season the plants must
receive good cultivation, care being
! taken, however, not to disturb the roots
while giving the cultivation.
| In the bed or matted system two or
three rows are planted in beds four feet
wide and the plants allowed to cover the
entire surface until these form close
mat or bed. One or two crops are taken
and then the plants are ploughed up.
BY thinning out occasionally, however,
the beds may be kept in moderately
productive condition, with some of the
more slender growing of our native va
! rieties.
Some cultivators who raise strawber-
rics for market adopt what may be called
an annual system, setting out plants in
the spring, either in single rows or mar
row beds, giving these extra care during
the first season; then, after the fruit is
gathered the next summer, the beds are
plowed up. This mode necessitates the
making of a new plantation annually. On
very rich soils and with the larger varie-
ties, which generally command the high
est price in the market, this system is an
excellent and profitable one. But anna
teurs and others who have only limited
space to devote to this fruit will prefer
either the hill or row system, because by
dcvoting little more labor to cultiva-
tion and removing the runners the beds
may be kept in good condition for fruit
ing half dozen years. BY an occasional
top p-dressing Of old and well-rotted
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
The MOS0uitO,

"Whilc people think themselves per-
fectly familiar with this common in
sect, they know next to nothing OF it, "
said Entomologist Lint in the course of
lecture on the mosquito, delivered In
Albany N. Y, the other night.
"Mosquito is a Spanish and Portuguese
word, and is probably the diminutive of
the Spanish mosca, fly. In England
Mosquitoes are known as gnats. The
mosquitoes and associated gnats belong to
the order of diptera, or two-winged flies,
and to the family of culiCid9. This
family, from the high degree of develop
men: of its mouth parts, has been placed
at the head of the diptera, as are the
cicendelida, or tiger beetles, at the head
of the coleoptera, snd the papilionida,
the first of the ledidapte1a. The
principal characteristic of the family is
its long and slender beak, or proboscis,
nearly half as long as the insect, appear
; ing as a simple organ, but really COM
posed of several pieces peculiarly fitted
for their functions of forcing their way
into the flesh and drawing blood there
from.
THE effects of the bite varies greatly
in different persons. There are those
who are scarcely affected by it, and, in
deed, are rarely bitten, either by this in
sect, the bcdbug or the flea. l have no
explanation to offer for the attractive
ness of some persons for these pests and
the reverse in others, but it would seem
that it might result from some peculiar
emanation from the person. The severe
singing sensation and subsequent inflam-
nation and itching of the bite is believed
to be owing to Il poisonous fluid injected
into the wound through the proboscis at
the time of its insertion to affect the
blood and cause it to flow more readily.
This opinion, advanced by Reaumur, has
been verified by discovering the fluids or
the glands for its secretion correspond
ing 10 the poison.sac, which secretes the
venom injected through the sting of the
bee, yet it has been largely accepted as
the feasible explanation Of the attendant
phenomena.
"All the annoyance, pains, tort'rcs,
which the world cndures from the mos
quito is solely chargcablc upon Nine.
Culex. 1 cheerfully admit that the y'atu-
raj taste of Mr.. Culex may be equally
tloodthirsty, but, alas. poor creature, he
has been left without the means of graft
flying a sanguinar; desire. He is, there
fore, compelled TO forego the exquisite
relish his companion may indulge, and is
content with the juices of plants.
"We do know one purpose which
the mosquito serves, and one OF consid-
erable importance in a sanitary point of
view. 1t serves to purify standing
waters, and, to great extent, to lessen
their malarial influences. The natural
habitat of the larval mosquito is the stag
nant water of our miasmatic swamps.
The entire food of the creature, from its
birth to its majority, is believed to be
decayed vegetable matter"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
The Coffee Tree,

Coffee is not a bush, as is popularly
supposed, but tree, which, if permitted
to grow, will shoot up thirty or forty feet.
When properly cultivated it is nipped of
about six feet from the ground. thus pre-.
senting surface from which the berries
are easily picked and allowing the main
to gain greater strength. The tall shrubs
somewhat resemble the magnolias with
their shining dark green leaves-;but the
starry, snow-white flowers remind one
OF orange blossoms in all but fragrance.
The phenomenon is constantly displayed
of buds, blossoms, green and ripe fruit,
all on the same stem; but though always
Towering and developing fruit, the true
harvest season is from April to Novem
Der. When fully matured the berries are
dark red, looking precisely like COM
mon variety of sea bean. They turn to Q
dull brown after having been picked and
become almost black by drying.-Prooi-
HeDre LDurnul
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
The Coming Sheep.

The New Workers are waking up to
the idea that we should have more
American breeds of sheep. Some of the
best breeders of the Merinos are going
to try to establish a breed of mutton
Merinos.
A Mr.. Markham, of Rochester, N. Y,
has in his care several full-bred French
Merinos from the famous flock of the
French government. They were sent
here to sell. They are much larger than
any American Merinos; have larger legs
and bigger heads; the wool is not as fine.
They do no have any wrinkles or folds,
except it may be dewlap. These sheep
have a value to cross on the American
Merinos, to increase the size of the latter.
They have been bred in France for a
century for size of body and length of
staple. Fine wool-that is, exceedingly
fine wool-never grows on large body.
The wool may be long and wavy, or it
may be we'll crimped, but fineness OF
staple is arrayed against large fleece. 1t
is possible to have thick fleece on
large carcass by judicious mingling of
blood, such as the Merino and Oxford
down. The latter produce wool long
enough for combing and thicker fleece
than the large coarse woods, and when
crossed on the Merinos the fleece is long
and exceedingly compact. A good sheep
can be made by this line of crossing,
with measure of blood, one-fouIth Ne
rino and three-fourths Oxford. The
face and legs are brown and the head
clear, with only prominent tuft over
the eyes.-Our Country Home.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
/ 8 PHYSICIANS
| FAILED.

The treatment Of many thousands OF cases
of those chronic weaknesses and distressing
ailments peculiar to females, at the lnyalids'
Hotel and Surgical Institute, Buffalo, N. Y,
has Afforded a vast experience in nicely
adapting and thoroughly testing remedies
for the cure of woman's peculiar maladies.
Dr. Pierce's FavOrite Prescription
is the outgrowth, or result, Of this great
and valuable experience. Thousands Of
Testimonials, received from patients and
from physicians who have tested it in the
more aggravated and obstinate cases which
had baflcd their skill, prove it to be the
most wonderful remedy ever devised for
the relief and cure of suffering women. 1t
is not recommended as cure-all," but
as a most perfect Specific for woman's
peculiar ailments.
As q powerful, invigorating tonic,
It imparts strength to the whole system,
and to the uterus, or womb and it's ap-
hworn-olit," rundown" debilitated teach
ers, milliners. dressmakers, seamstresses,
"shop-girls" housekeepers, nursing moth
ers, and feeble women generally, DR..
Piercc's Favorite Prescription is the great
est earthly boon, being uneHlalled as an
appetzing cordial and restorative tonic. 1t
promotes digestion and assimilation Of food,
Address. WORLDS DISPI
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
Corn Culture.

Shallow and level culture of corn has
been proved the best method of growing
this valuable crop. The roots of this
tropical plant seek the surface, where
they luxuriate in the suns heat. 1t is a
highly carbonaccous plant, as are all the
tropical varieties, and needs heat and
moisture. A loose surface is quickly
heated by the suns rays and readily alb
serbs the moisture from the hot ali,
which is condensed in the somewhat
cooler soil. especially at night, when the
heat is radiated from the soil and the dew
is copiously deposited on the cooled earth.
The feeding roots of this plant spread
freely close to the surface; hence, deep
cultivation is an injury, by leaving these
roots and checking the growth. There
is no good reason for hilling up corn: the
alleged reason that it supports ;he stalks
against high winds and beatin" rains is
not well founded, for q hillcd up crop is
as easily Frustrated as one on level
ground, and it RECEIVERS itself less easily.
Good practice and common consent Of
successful growers both favor shallow
and level cultivation of this crop.-Neao
York Times
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
Gypsy Horse Dealers.

The main dependence of American
gypsies is upon horse trading and deal
ing, says an article on the nomad tribes in
the st. Louis Globe -Den,ocrat Every
gypsy man, woman and child is master
of horse lore and horse care and horse
manship. A lad of twelve, or lass of fif-
teen, is trader, jockey and veteri-
marian. A large number of animals be-
sides those in actual use always accom-
pany the band. These are traded, sold
or their number added to at moments
notice. Of the keenness, cunning and
wonderful proficiency Of this race in horse
care, trading and dealing, I could relate
innumerable Incidents But it is an in
teresting general fact in this regard, that
gypsies are gradually taking the place of
all others as middlemen between the
farmers of our country and our final
markets. Nearly all the draft horses used
in our large cities are gathered to-
gether by gypsies from farmers in
Straits for money, cared for a
little time, got into excellent form and
training, and then sent to the city dealers,
who, supposed to belong to other races,
are gypsies themselves. Not only is the
famous Tattersall of London, who fur
nishes nearly all the nobility of England
with thoroughbred studs, gypsy: but
three of the largest horse markets in this
country, in Boston, New York and
Washington, are owned and conducted
by gypsies, while in the smaller cities of
the country these patient, quiet people
are gradually securing property with
livery and sales stables attached, to which
the thousands upon thousands of animals
secured during the summer wanderings
are shipped. Every one of these animals
is purchased for the lowest and sold at
the highest possible price. The gypsy is
welcomed by the farmer, for the farmer
always needs and the gypsy always has
money, while the city is becoming more
and more used to relying on gypsy selected
animals. For, while in jockeying
tourney the gypsy will perform some
marvellous swindles, in legitimate pur-
chases and sales his word and guarantee
are sacred and inviolable.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
Grant in 1857.

General Averill, the Union cavalry
leader, tells an interesting story of the
first time he ever saw Ulysses S. Grant.
It was in 1857, while General Averill was
ON his way to join his regiment in New
Mexico. When he got fourteen miles OF
so west of ST. Louis, leave was given
him to go back for few days. He had
to wait nearly an hour at Kirkwood for
returning train, and he passed the time
chatting with Lieutenant Craig and his
wife on the porch Of their cottage. Craig
was the commissary of the expedition.
While they were sitting there there
came up the country road which skirted
the railway single horseman, wearing
blue overcoat, such as private soldiers
wear, and black felt hat rather broken
and worn. In his hand he carried a
small black snake whip, which he applied
to the pot t-bellied mare he was riding.
The animals name and tail, it was no.
ticcd, were full of burrs. The brownish-
red face of the stranger was covered
with stubby, sandy beard. When he
reached the gate he halted, dismounted,
and fastened his animal to the picket
Lieutenant Craig went down to meet
him. After an earnest conversation the
man unfastened his animal. slowly
mounted, and rode away. When the
lieutenant returned to the porch he
remarked: "Averill would you believe
that that man had ever belonged to the
army?" ..,,
eyes" was the reply, ''hc might have
been an old soldier"
NO" said Craig, Gas an officer and
graduate of the military institute"
"He doesn't look it now," Averill
rejoined. "Who is he?"
"That's old Ulysses Grant of the
Fourth Infantry" the Lieutenant an
swered. ''He wanted to Re employed as
commissary clerk to drive the beef cattle
and issue the rations while we are cross
ing the plains. l couldn't employ him."
-Meto York Sun.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
AGRICULTURAL.
TOPICS OF INTEREST RELATIVE
FARM AND GARDEN.
Sowing Grass Without Grain.

On good, moist, rich land l have had
excellent success in seeding grass IN
spring, upon greensward turned over the
previous fall, and the surface thoroughly
pulverizcd before winter and again made
fine and mellow before spring. BY this
method grass land may be kept produc-
ing full crops of grass every year without
planting. But it will need reseeding
oftener than if an occasional hoed crop
is grown. Timothy is one of the poorest
kinds of grass for spring seeding without
grain, but if sown in August it will pro-
duce a full crop the text summer.
Orchard grass is a good variety for
spring seeding. A great amount of grass
seed is annually lost by sowing it in con-
nection with spring or winter grain.
The grain crops being harvested In the
hottest part of the year, leave the tender
and previously shaded grass plants to be
burned up, leaf and root, by the scorch-
ing sun. Massachusetts Farmer.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
Rust on Pears.

The rust on pears begins to show early
in the season as small brownish spots,
which gradually enlarge, and if numerous
may nearly cover the surface of the fruit.
The rust sometimes reaches its maturity
and partially or wholly dies before the
fruit is fully grown; in such cases it is
cast off. the spot becomes more or less
perfectly healed, and the appearance
known as ''scab" is the result. In either
case the fruit is injured in market value,
and if the attack is severe is rendered
almost worthless. The cause of the in
jury isa fungus. Fusicladium pyrinum,
which grows Just beneath the skin and
pushes its fruiting threads out into the
air, producing myriads of spores for its
further propagation. The rust on the
leaves of the pear is due to the same fun
gus, and to keep it from the fruit, there
fore, will necessitate keeping the foliage
free also.
The only preventive or remedy that
seems feasible and economicali is some ap-
plication to the young leaves and fruit
that will prevent the fungus from getting
foothold. The fungicide in solution
should be sprayed upon the trees several
times from the bursting of the buds until
June. especially just after rains. What
is best to- use yet remains to he deter
mined. Mr.. Goff, of the New York En-
pertinent Station, found much benefit
from hyposulphite of soda at the rate
of one pound to ten gallons of water.
Sulphide of potassa will, no doubt, also
prove valuable. If the trees are sprayed
with Paris green the fungicide may be
added and applied at the same time
Neu York Herald.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
POPULAR SCIENCE.

biologists are preplexed by ther return
this season of enormous shoals of herring
to a point on the northwest coast Of
Norway, from which they suddenly and
completely disappeared twenty-five years
ago.
DR.. Welander has found mercury in
the body from six to twelve months, and
even more, after its use was discontinued,
but discredits the statment that it may
remain for twelve or thirteen years in the
system.
Iodine, hitherto found in nature only
in combination with other elements, has
been discovered in free state in the
water of Woodhall Spa, near Lincoln,
England. The iodine colors the water Il
decided brown.
A new discovery, by the use of citric
acid or citrate of silver, seawatcr may he
made drinkable. BY this means chloride
of silver is precipitatcd and a harmless
mineral water is produced. An ounce OF
citrate makes half pint of water drink
able.
1t is not necessary to have different
metals to obtain current OF electricity.
Iron in nitric acid and iron in sulphuric
acid, the two fluids being separated by 4
porous partition, will give current. one
plate wasting away while the other is
thickencd.
A remarkably practical application OF
a well-known scientific fact has been
made in the soda locomotive. These en-
gines are now used in the st. Gothard
tunnel, Berlin and other European cities,
and are now to be put in operation IN
Minneapolis.
There are now ESQ local electrical light
ing companies in the country. The
capital invested in manufacture and
supply, according to the Electrical Re
rieao, is between ninety and hundred
million dollars There are lighted every
night in the United States 125, 900
voltaic arc lights and G50, ,000 incandes-
cent lights.
Mary E. Tousey, On the study of IN
sects in the 4mrican Teacher. concludes
that every insect has its use in the world.
Many live very romantic lives-some are
wanderers and some are social in their
habits, all are wonderful. 1t Is possible
for US 10 discover the secrets OF their
lives and the mysteries of their homes If
We carefully study them.
The variable star Algol is so infinitely
distant from the earth that it takes thlr-
ty years for its light to reach us. So we
see it as it was thirty years ago, not as 1t
is to-day. When one Of its dissertations
occurs, therefore, the one that is visible
to lis occurred generation ago, and
about 1000 such dissertations have taken
place and started on their way hither
since the one we see happened.
VI. Hermite, French astronomer, states
that while the total number of stars visi-
bic TO the naked eye in both hemispheres
does not exceed &, 900, the number being
2,4;S for the Northern and 3, 307 for the
Southern hemisphere, go, 600 may be seen
with an opera glass, 80, 600 with small
telescope, and with the most powerful
telescopes that have been constructed
more than 1000, 900. Of course no
one ever did or ever can see so many;
but that is the computed number Of stars
that powerful telescope could bring to
view.